Pest plants
https://archive.gw.govt.nz/pest-plants
Pest plants
We manage and operate across 200,000 hectares of land to protect our region’s natural environment.
Pest plants threaten our regions’ parks and reserves, and take over our productive land. They can cause serious harm to our environment, along with health risks to people, and threaten agricultural industries.
Working together
There are many things we can do collectively, as individuals and as a community. We rely on farmers, residential home owners and water sport enthusiasts to help us identify pest species so we can remove them.
We partner with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), local councils and communities to undertake direct control of targeted pest plants in specific areas, while others need to be managed by people on their own properties.
Help us to spot these top 3 plants
We have established a 10 year surveillance programme to keep these three invasive pest species out of our region.
We need your help to identify these plants, so we can eradicate them before they become a problem.
To do this we need your help. Seen any of these 3 pests? Contact us on 0800 496 734 or email pest.plants@gw.govt.nz.
Chilean needle grass
Save yourself the extra dollars by helping to detect this nasty pest plant before it becomes a problem.
- Chilean needle grass has a sharp needle like tip that can penetrate the skin and muscle of stock
- It contaminates feed, downgrades pellets and wool and out-competes productive pasture grasses
- Download the fact sheet for more information
Nassella tussock
Save yourself the extra dollars by helping to detect this nasty pest plant before it becomes a problem.
- Nassella tussock is seriously invasive and can completely outcompete low-producing grassland
- It is unpalatable and indigestible, which reduces livestock grazing area
- Download the fact sheet for more information
Alligator weed
Help us to detect this nasty pest plant before it becomes a problem.
- Alligator weed is a serious threat to the agricultural sector
- This aggressively spreading plant out-competes pastures and crops, causes flooding, and creates sediment build up. It is an extremely tough weed to control once established
- Download the fact sheet for more information
Help us to spot these pest plants
We are always on the lookout for pest plants. We undertake direct control of targeted pest plants in specific areas, while others need to be managed by people on their own properties.
We can help to control these species:
If you see one of these pest plants then note the location, take a photo if you can, and contact us on 0800 496 734 or email pest.plants@gw.govt.nz.
If you live in Hutt City, contact the Hutt City Council if you see any of these pest plants:
How to manage common pest plants
There are some weeds that are so widespread that control by the landowner is the only option. Find out how you can manage these common pest plants:
Get more information
- Contact Greater Wellington on 0800 496 734 or email pest.plants@gw.govt.nz if you have questions about potential pest plants on your property, we provide free advice on how to identify and control them
- Weedbusters provides descriptions and images to help with pest identification
- Agpest is an identification tool for pests, biology, impact and management for farmers and agricultural professionals
- iNaturatlist is a sharing tool that contributes to biodiversity science for avid nature observers
- Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research provides information on weeds and biocontrol
- Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for information on protecting New Zealand from biological risk
